Originally Posted by
atwl77
My beef with things like this, is that it is a form of "online hardware activation", which is a concept that I am against in principle. I understand that for certain devices there needs to be activation especially when there is a related law or mandate (drones, in particular), but as a general thing - I say no to hardware activation. If I bought a piece of hardware from the store (whether that be a cycling computer, an action camera, a tv, a toaster, or whatever), I expect it to be usable without needing to connect to the Internet to "activate" it first.
You are kinda in the weeds here (and not really being helpful).
The Garmins don't need to connect to the internet to "activate" them. But you do need to connect to the internet to get updates for firmware or maps.
So, whether or not you like it (a thing not many people care about), if one wants to use these sorts of devices (which are more complicated than toasters), one will likely have to live with registering the device.
Originally Posted by
atwl77
Most (all?) DJI products have it - their drones, gimbals, action cameras. The drones I understand, there are laws requiring a drone be registered to the owner, when and where they can be flown, etc but the others, activation doesn't make sense. If you buy their Osmo Action camera from a store, you can't just insert a fresh battery and memory card and start using it. It will not function unless you activate it online using a smartphone.
The Favero Assioma power meter pedals - likewise, you can't use them without first activating them using a smartphone.
That's what I can remember at the top of my head, and hopefully this list remains this way - small!
Not software update, but software activation - a form of DRM where you can't use the software (or it remains locked in a limited/crippled trial mode) unless you activate it via the Internet.
Apparently, given that you don't mention GPS units at all, you know nothing about them.